TCEQ OSSF COMPREHENSIVE COMPLETE EXAM 2026/2027 | QUESTIONS
AND 100% CORRECT ANSWERS | NEWEST VERSION (PASS GUARANTEE)
1. Who regulates OSSF systems in Texas? ANSWER The Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
2. When did Texas begin statewide regulation of OSSFs? ANSWER September
1989.
3. True or False: Before 1989, Texas had no statewide regulation of OSSFs.
ANSWER True.
4. The law gives local government the right to adopt local regulations that are
______ than the state OSSF law or rules. ANSWER More stringent.
5. Who adopted the current OSSF Rules in 1997 and revised them several
times? ANSWER TCEQ.
6. What is the term length for a new OSSF license? ANSWER 3 years.
7. How many hours of TCEQ-approved continuing education are required to
renew an OSSF license? ANSWER 24 hours.
8. An individual who holds a valid license from TCEQ and is compensated to
construct, install, alter, or repair an OSSF is called a(n) ______. ANSWER
Installer.
9. Who is responsible for reviewing permit applications, site evaluations,
planning materials, and conducting inspections of OSSFs? ANSWER The
Designated Representative (DR).
10. Can a DR work as an installer, designer for a fee, or private site evaluator
within the jurisdiction of their permitting agency? ANSWER No.
11. List the OSSF licenses that require previous experience. ANSWER Installer
II and Maintenance Provider.
,12. What is needed to pre-qualify for an OSSF exam? ANSWER Submit an
application, notarized experience statements, pay class and application fees,
and complete the appropriate training course.
13. Penalties for violating OSSF laws, rules, or regulations can be imposed
under what three headings? ANSWER Criminal penalties, injunction/civil suit,
and administrative penalties.
14. Who can legally install a septic tank followed by a low-pressure dosing
drain field at a rental house? ANSWER An Installer II.
15. Planning materials for an OSSF utilizing secondary treatment must be
prepared by whom? ANSWER A Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered
Sanitarian (RS).
16. What are the 9 steps of the permitting process? ANSWER (1) Site
evaluation, (2) Selection of an OSSF, (3) System planning, (4) PE or RS submits
planning materials, (5) Permit application prepared and submitted, (6)
Application reviewed by permitting authority, (7) Authorization to Construct
(ATC) granted before construction, (8) Construction inspection by permitting
agency, (9) Notice of Approval (NOA) and permit to operate issued.
17. What does ATC stand for? ANSWER Authorization to Construct.
18. What does NOA stand for? ANSWER Notice of Approval.
19. Can construction begin before receiving the ATC? ANSWER No.
20. What must be obtained before a system can legally operate? ANSWER A
Notice of Approval (NOA) and permit to operate.
21. What is the minimum diameter for a house sewer line? ANSWER 3
inches.
22. What is the minimum slope for a house sewer line? ANSWER 1/8 inch per
foot.
23. What should a house sewer have for maintenance access? ANSWER A
two-way sanitary clean-out.
24. What types of pipe are acceptable for the line from the building to the
treatment tank? ANSWER Cast iron, SDR 26 plastic pipe, and Schedule 40
plastic pipe.
25. What is the minimum liquid depth of a septic tank? ANSWER 30 inches.
, 26. If a septic tank has only 15 inches of cover, what must it have? ANSWER
An access port with a riser.
27. How are properly sealed septic tanks vented? ANSWER Through the
building plumbing.
28. What should the standard inlet and outlet devices in a septic tank be?
ANSWER Tees.
29. Which compartment of a properly designed septic tank removes most of
the settable solids and scum? ANSWER The first compartment.
30. What characteristics should a poured-in-place concrete septic tank have?
ANSWER Watertight, designed by a PE, and structurally sound.
31. If effluent is to be pumped, what requirements apply? ANSWER A high-
water alarm must be provided, the pump must be in a separate chamber, and
a check valve should be in line if the disposal area is upgrade.
32. What is the working liquid capacity of a septic tank? ANSWER The
volume between the bottom and the outlet invert.
33. What is Q in OSSF calculations? ANSWER Quantity of Sewage in gallons
per day (GPD).
34. What is the minimum water usage rate for planning an OSSF for a new
home with three bedrooms and 3,000 sq ft? ANSWER 300 gallons/day.
35. What is the expected wastewater volume (Q) from an older three-
bedroom mobile home? ANSWER 300 GPD.
36. What is a key indicator for estimating water usage in a single-family
dwelling? ANSWER The number of bedrooms; however, square footage
should also be considered.
37. What are common causes of blockage in home plumbing systems?
ANSWER Oils, greases, and fats.
38. Why are garbage disposals not recommended for homes with OSSFs?
ANSWER They significantly increase the amount of suspended solids and
organic matter discharged to the sewage disposal system.
39. What is the first step in reducing wastewater load? ANSWER Elimination
of leaks.
AND 100% CORRECT ANSWERS | NEWEST VERSION (PASS GUARANTEE)
1. Who regulates OSSF systems in Texas? ANSWER The Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
2. When did Texas begin statewide regulation of OSSFs? ANSWER September
1989.
3. True or False: Before 1989, Texas had no statewide regulation of OSSFs.
ANSWER True.
4. The law gives local government the right to adopt local regulations that are
______ than the state OSSF law or rules. ANSWER More stringent.
5. Who adopted the current OSSF Rules in 1997 and revised them several
times? ANSWER TCEQ.
6. What is the term length for a new OSSF license? ANSWER 3 years.
7. How many hours of TCEQ-approved continuing education are required to
renew an OSSF license? ANSWER 24 hours.
8. An individual who holds a valid license from TCEQ and is compensated to
construct, install, alter, or repair an OSSF is called a(n) ______. ANSWER
Installer.
9. Who is responsible for reviewing permit applications, site evaluations,
planning materials, and conducting inspections of OSSFs? ANSWER The
Designated Representative (DR).
10. Can a DR work as an installer, designer for a fee, or private site evaluator
within the jurisdiction of their permitting agency? ANSWER No.
11. List the OSSF licenses that require previous experience. ANSWER Installer
II and Maintenance Provider.
,12. What is needed to pre-qualify for an OSSF exam? ANSWER Submit an
application, notarized experience statements, pay class and application fees,
and complete the appropriate training course.
13. Penalties for violating OSSF laws, rules, or regulations can be imposed
under what three headings? ANSWER Criminal penalties, injunction/civil suit,
and administrative penalties.
14. Who can legally install a septic tank followed by a low-pressure dosing
drain field at a rental house? ANSWER An Installer II.
15. Planning materials for an OSSF utilizing secondary treatment must be
prepared by whom? ANSWER A Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered
Sanitarian (RS).
16. What are the 9 steps of the permitting process? ANSWER (1) Site
evaluation, (2) Selection of an OSSF, (3) System planning, (4) PE or RS submits
planning materials, (5) Permit application prepared and submitted, (6)
Application reviewed by permitting authority, (7) Authorization to Construct
(ATC) granted before construction, (8) Construction inspection by permitting
agency, (9) Notice of Approval (NOA) and permit to operate issued.
17. What does ATC stand for? ANSWER Authorization to Construct.
18. What does NOA stand for? ANSWER Notice of Approval.
19. Can construction begin before receiving the ATC? ANSWER No.
20. What must be obtained before a system can legally operate? ANSWER A
Notice of Approval (NOA) and permit to operate.
21. What is the minimum diameter for a house sewer line? ANSWER 3
inches.
22. What is the minimum slope for a house sewer line? ANSWER 1/8 inch per
foot.
23. What should a house sewer have for maintenance access? ANSWER A
two-way sanitary clean-out.
24. What types of pipe are acceptable for the line from the building to the
treatment tank? ANSWER Cast iron, SDR 26 plastic pipe, and Schedule 40
plastic pipe.
25. What is the minimum liquid depth of a septic tank? ANSWER 30 inches.
, 26. If a septic tank has only 15 inches of cover, what must it have? ANSWER
An access port with a riser.
27. How are properly sealed septic tanks vented? ANSWER Through the
building plumbing.
28. What should the standard inlet and outlet devices in a septic tank be?
ANSWER Tees.
29. Which compartment of a properly designed septic tank removes most of
the settable solids and scum? ANSWER The first compartment.
30. What characteristics should a poured-in-place concrete septic tank have?
ANSWER Watertight, designed by a PE, and structurally sound.
31. If effluent is to be pumped, what requirements apply? ANSWER A high-
water alarm must be provided, the pump must be in a separate chamber, and
a check valve should be in line if the disposal area is upgrade.
32. What is the working liquid capacity of a septic tank? ANSWER The
volume between the bottom and the outlet invert.
33. What is Q in OSSF calculations? ANSWER Quantity of Sewage in gallons
per day (GPD).
34. What is the minimum water usage rate for planning an OSSF for a new
home with three bedrooms and 3,000 sq ft? ANSWER 300 gallons/day.
35. What is the expected wastewater volume (Q) from an older three-
bedroom mobile home? ANSWER 300 GPD.
36. What is a key indicator for estimating water usage in a single-family
dwelling? ANSWER The number of bedrooms; however, square footage
should also be considered.
37. What are common causes of blockage in home plumbing systems?
ANSWER Oils, greases, and fats.
38. Why are garbage disposals not recommended for homes with OSSFs?
ANSWER They significantly increase the amount of suspended solids and
organic matter discharged to the sewage disposal system.
39. What is the first step in reducing wastewater load? ANSWER Elimination
of leaks.
